North Thurston: let the voters decide

Although I teach in the Olympia School District, I live within the confines of North Thurston SD. This absolutely bewilders me:

[T]he governor claims that Seattle schools could collect nearly $14 million, Tacoma $1.7 million and North Thurston could bring in $2 million.

The North Thurston School District disputes the governor's estimate, but said even if the governor's math is right they would not plan on collecting the cash.

District spokeswoman Courtney Schrieve said taxpayers approved a levy expecting to pay a certain amount and taking more out of their pockets now isn't fair.

"We just don't feel like it's the right thing to do. Even though we're having to cut 65 staff positions," Schrieve said.

It isn't fair only if the voters don't approve of the increase--and when the last levy passed, we had no idea a $9 billion shortfall was in the works.

Why not commission a poll and find out what the voters want?

North Thurston levy results--updated

The levy is going to pass.

That's not news, that's a prediction. But I bet it'll be news around 8:15 tonight. The level of advertising, sign-waving, and overall interest from the pro-levy folks is infinitely higher than last go-round. Thus, I'm confidently prognosticating a win today.

Heck, I even saw pro-levy signs at the office where I get my molars scrubbed.

If I'm wrong, I'll... I don't know. I won't be wrong.

Update 8:20 p.m. Early results are quite favorable. With about 44% of the possible ballots cast, the levy's up 62-37%. Remember, nowadays, it needs only 50.01% to pass. It's going to pass.

Update 8:28 p.m. The Olympian concurs. It passes.